Nation
Politics, governance and communities across the Philippines.
Nation Page 36 of 60
Isko Moreno raises jeepney subsidy to ₱3,500 to offset fuel price hike
Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso announced Tuesday morning, March 31, that the city government is increasing its subsidy for participating jeepney drivers from ₱3,000 to ₱3,500, funded by ₱661,000 in savings generated from the program’s first day of operations on Monday. The…
Manila’s free ride program designed to benefit operators, drivers, gas stations, and commuters all at once
(UPDATED) Over 60,000 passengers had already boarded free jeepneys in Manila by 2:30 p.m. Monday, March 30, and Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso says that is only the beginning. Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) Director Dennis Viaje reported to the Mayor that 60,228 passengers were…
Marcos is betting on an energy deal with China, but analysts aren’t so sure
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made a striking claim in a television interview: a reset of the Philippines’ ties with China was, in his words, “happening now.” Speaking to Bloomberg, he also said the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which prompted him to declare a national energy crisis after…
Malacañang lauds Manila for subsidizing free jeepney rides during fuel crisis
Malacañang praised the Manila City government for subsidizing jeepney operations to provide free rides to commuters amid the ongoing fuel crisis. In a press statement on Sunday, March 29, Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto cited Manila’s program as an example of solidarity during a period of…
How long will the Iran conflict last — and what does it mean for the Philippines?
One month into the war between the United States and Iran, there are no signs of a ceasefire, no formal peace negotiations on the table, and no clear end in sight. What began as a swift American military strike — framed by the Trump administration as a decisive blow against Iran’s nuclear…
Rising prices push Holy Week travelers to swap flights for bus rides
The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) is bracing for a busier-than-usual Holy Week rush this year, as rising prices are expected to push more Filipinos away from planes and private cars — and toward provincial buses. PITX communications chief Jason Salvador said the terminal is already…
Thousands of drivers missed from aid list to get special payout after Holy Week
Thousands of transport workers who were left out of the government’s cash assistance list will still receive their ₱5,000 cash aid through a special payout to be held after the Holy Week break, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Saturday, March 29. In an interview on DZRH…
Philippines has world’s most expensive housing: Gallup
A report by The Economist found that the most expensive housing is not in developed countries, but in developing ones. Citing a 2025 survey conducted by Gallup, the publication said that 54% of respondents in the Philippines reported experiencing housing-related financial difficulties. The…
Philippines posts highest diesel price increase in the world since the start of Iran war
The Philippines has recorded the highest increase in diesel prices globally, with costs rising by 81.6% since the start of the Iran war, according to data from Global Petrol Prices. The surge places the country at the top of a global list of fuel price increases, highlighting the severity of the…
Over 400 gas stations close as oil price surge hits PH supply chain
At least 425 gas stations across the Philippines have shut down amid rising fuel prices driven by tensions in the Middle East, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday, March 27. “Sa araw po na ito March 27, 2026, ang kabuuan ng nagsaradong gas stations ay umabot po ng 425. Kahapon, ito po…
Isko Moreno announces Manila LGU to shoulder jeepney drivers’ earnings to provide free rides for commuters
Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Friday, March 27, announced that the city government will shoulder the earnings of jeepney drivers to allow participating units to provide free rides to commuters, as part of the implementation of Executive Order No. 14, series of 2026. The…
Instead of abolition, former NYC chairman proposes transforming Sangguniang Kabataan into Youth Environmental Corps
Former National Youth Commission (NYC) chairman Cesar Chavez is proposing a sweeping institutional reform that would transform the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) into a nationwide Youth Environmental Corps (YEC), offering it as an alternative to calls to abolish the youth body. Chavez said that…
In a time of crisis, should the Philippines put off hosting ₱17.6 billion ASEAN Summit?
As oil prices rise and the peso weakens, the Philippine government is being urged to reassess its spending priorities, with the ₱17.6-billion ASEAN Summit emerging as one option for review. Former Finance Secretary Gary Teves says the question is not about diplomacy, but priorities. In times of…
The Philippines’ food supply is safe—for now—and why we should thank our farmers
For now, food remains available. Rice is being harvested, fish supply is steady, and markets are holding despite rising costs linked to tensions in the Middle East. That buffer, according to Agriculture Undersecretary Asis Perez, comes down to timing. The crisis coincided with harvest season…
Middle class now the ‘new poor’ as health costs surge amid Iran crisis, says public health expert
The Philippine middle class risks slipping into financial distress as healthcare costs rise alongside the ongoing Iran conflict, with public health expert Dr. Tony Leachon warning that even previously stable households are now vulnerable to medical shocks. Speaking on DZRH’s Special on Saturday…